Report of the Strategic Director (Development)

This report provides background information on the Future High Streets Fund that has recently been established by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. It sets out the process that is proposed to follow in responding to this funding opportunity and asks for the Subgroup’s endorsement to this approach.

The Subgroup considered the report of the Strategic Director (Development) that provided background information on the Future High Streets Fund that had recently been established by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. It set out the process that it was proposed to follow in responding to this funding opportunity and asked for the Subgroup’s endorsement of this approach.

The Strategic Director (Development) referred to the main points and themes within the report which included: -

·         Background to the fund and the bidding criteria, noting that Manchester could make up to four submissions;

·         The rationale for submitting the first funding bid for Withington District Centre, noting thatWithington had been selected as it was a very strong example of the Our Manchester approach; and

·         Outlining Manchester’s proposed approach.

Councillor White, Ward Councillor for Old Moat, addressed the Subgroup and stated that Withington was within a conservation area with a great heritage and the ambition of the bid was to ensure it had a great future also in these challenging times. He stated that a range of stakeholders in the local community were engaged in this process, including the Christie Hospital, the local MP, community groups and the Age Friendly Team. He informed the Subgroup that a workshop had been arranged for stakeholders, with the support of the IPM, to help inform the funding submission.

Dr Millington informed the Subgroup that an event had recently been held at MMU to articulate and provide information on the Supplementary Guidance to local authorities which provided more detail on the eligibility criteria for the first round of the Fund and set out how expressions of interest would be assessed by the government department. He commented that the intention of the fund was to deliver a legacy and that he would circulate the information that had been delivered at the event.

The Assistant Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration reported that he welcomed the decision for Withington to submit a bid, noting that the lessons learnt from this experience would inform future submissions.

The Neighbourhoods Team Manager South informed Members that this fund presented an opportunity for positive community engagement with developers and local businesses to influence and drive improvements on the local high street. He commented that, whilst Withington high street did not have the high number of vacant units which some areas had, there was a significant number of premises that were underused and this was an opportunity to review this.

The Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration reported that Withington had demonstrated a clear commitment to a partnership approach and that this had informed the decision to nominate Withington for the bid. She stated that challenges would arise in identifying other areas to nominate due to the stated criteria and the issue of match funding. 

The Chair noted that the work and the information that had been collated on district centres would help inform the decisions to identify other areas for nomination for funding and contribute to the funding submissions.

Decisions

1.         To note the report.

2.         To note the intention to make submissions to both rounds of the fund;  

           and

3.        To note the intention to submit a bid for Withington District Centre in

           2019 and to initiate work to develop a further bid for the funding round    

           expected to take place in 2020, informed by the findings of the work on

           District Centres.